Information processing method, information processing device, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium

ABSTRACT

In an information processing method, a computer obtains a result of sensing the interior of a mobile body, performs a recognition process of recognizing at least one of dirt and damage inside the mobile body, on the basis of the sensing result, determines a handler who handles at least one of the dirt and the damage inside the mobile body, according to the result of the recognition process, and outputs a notification for the handler to handle the interior of the mobile body.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. continuation application of PCT InternationalPatent Application Number PCT/JP2019/034677 filed on Sep. 4, 2019,claiming the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/776,785 filed on Dec. 7, 2018 and Japanese Patent ApplicationNumber 2019-100498 filed on May 29, 2019, the entire contents of whichare hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to information processing methods forinformation related to mobile bodies.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, techniques for managing operations of mobile bodies areknown (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2013-054537).

Furthermore, techniques related to mobile bodies including robots thatautomatically clean the interior of the mobile bodies are disclosed(Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-166379).

SUMMARY

In the management of the operations of a mobile body, when there is anydirt or damage inside the mobile body, it is preferred that anappropriate handler handle the dirt or the damage.

In view of this, an object of the present disclosure is to provide aninformation processing method, an information processing device, and anon-transitory computer-readable recording medium by which anappropriate handler can be assigned to handle dirt or damage inside amobile body.

An information processing method according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure includes the following executed by a computer: obtaining aresult of sensing an interior of a mobile body; performing a recognitionprocess of recognizing at least one of dirt or damage inside the mobilebody, based on the result of sensing; determining a handler who handlesthe at least one of the dirt or the damage inside the mobile body,according to a result of the recognition process; and outputting anotification for the handler to handle the interior of the mobile body.

An information processing device according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure includes: an obtainer which obtains a result of sensing aninterior of a mobile body; a recognition process executor which performsa recognition process of recognizing at least one of dirt or damageinside the mobile body, based on the result of sensing; and a handlerdetermination unit configured to determine a handler who handles the atleast one of the dirt or the damage inside the mobile body, according toa result of the recognition process, and output a notification for thehandler to handle the interior of the mobile body.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to oneaspect of the present disclosure causes a computer to execute a firstprocess including the following executed by the computer: obtaining aresult of sensing an interior of a mobile body; performing a recognitionprocess of recognizing at least one of dirt or damage inside the mobilebody, based on the result of sensing; determining a handler who handlesthe at least one of the dirt or the damage inside the mobile body,according to a result of the recognition process; and outputting anotification for the handler to handle the interior of the mobile body.

With the information processing method, the information processingdevice, and the non-transitory computer-readable recording mediumaccording to one aspect of the present disclosure, an appropriatehandler can be assigned to handle dirt or damage inside a mobile body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and other objects, advantages and features of the disclosure willbecome apparent from the following description thereof taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings that illustrate a specificembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of aninformation processing system according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of handlerinformation stored in a handler management database according toEmbodiment 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of handlerinformation stored in a handler management database according toEmbodiment 1;

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of the interiorof a mobile body according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of the interiorof a mobile body according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of the interiorof a mobile body according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of a table storedin a recognition process executor according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating one specific example ofpercentages of a dirt or damage range in a predetermined area inside amobile body according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of a first tablestored in a handler determination unit according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of comparisoninformation generated by a handler determination unit according toEmbodiment 1;

FIG. 9 is a sequence chart of a first matching process according toEmbodiment 1;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a first mobile body control server processaccording to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of aninformation processing system according to Embodiment 2;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of a secondtable stored in a handler terminal according to Embodiment 2;

FIG. 13 is a sequence chart of a second matching process according toEmbodiment 2; and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a second mobile body control server processaccording to Embodiment 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS (Underlying Knowledge FormingBasis of One Aspect of the Present Disclosure)

Generally, autonomous mobile bodies are driverless; therefore, whenthere is dirt or damage inside the mobile bodies, it is impossible tomake drivers handle the dirt or the damage. Thus, in the case whereautonomous mobile bodies are provided to users, it is necessary toassign an appropriate person to handle dirt or damage inside the mobilebodies.

In view of this problem, the inventors repeated diligent examinationsand experiments. As a result, the inventors have conceived of aninformation processing method, an information processing device, and anon-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to oneaspect of the present disclosure described below by which an appropriatehandler can be assigned to handle dirt or damage inside a mobile body.

An information processing method according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure includes the following executed by a computer: obtaining aresult of sensing an interior of a mobile body; performing a recognitionprocess of recognizing at least one of dirt or damage inside the mobilebody, based on the result of sensing; determining a handler who handlesthe at least one of the dirt or the damage inside the mobile body,according to a result of the recognition process; and outputting anotification for the handler to handle the interior of the mobile body.

According to the above information processing method, a handler whohandles at least one of dirt and damage inside the mobile body isdetermined from the result of sensing the interior of the mobile body,and a notification for the determined handler to handle the interior ofthe mobile body is output. Therefore, it is possible to assign anappropriate handler to handle the dirt or the damage inside the mobilebody. In other words, selection of an appropriate handler can beautomated. Thus, the dirt or the damage inside the mobile body can beefficiently reduced.

Furthermore, a handler candidate who is capable of handling the dirt orthe damage inside the mobile body that has been recognized as the resultof the recognition process may be determined as the handler. Thus, aperson who is capable of handling the dirt or the damage inside themobile body can become the handler.

Furthermore, a handler candidate who has time to handle the dirt or thedamage inside the mobile body that has been recognized as the result ofthe recognition process may be determined as the handler. Thus, a personwho has time to handle the dirt or the damage inside the mobile body canbecome the handler.

Furthermore, the travel path or the position of the mobile body and theposition of a handler candidate may be obtained, and a handler candidatelocated in a predetermined range from the travel path or the positionmay be determined as the handler. Thus, a person who is located in apredetermined range from the travel path or the position of the mobilebody can become the handler.

Furthermore, the position of a handling place associated with thehandler may be obtained, and the notification may be a travel requestfor the mobile body to move to the handling place. This makes itpossible to cause the mobile body to move to the handling place.

Furthermore, the notification may be a handling request for the handlerto handle the mobile body. Thus, the request to handle the mobile bodycan be sent to the handler.

Furthermore, the position of the mobile body may be obtained, and thenotification may include the position of the mobile body. Thus, thehandler can be notified of the position of the mobile body.

Furthermore, the position of the handler and the position of the mobilebody may be obtained, a handling place may be determined according tothe position of the handler and the position of the mobile body, and thenotification may include the position of the handling place, a handlingrequest for the handler, and a travel request for the mobile body. Thus,the position of the handling place and the request to handle the mobilebody can be sent to the handler, and it is possible to cause the mobilebody to move to the handling place.

Furthermore, a recruitment announcement including the condition of thedirt or the damage inside the mobile body that has been recognized asthe result of the recognition process and scheduled handling time forhandling the dirt or the damage inside the mobile body may be presentedto a handler candidate, and a handler candidate who has applied inresponse to the recruitment announcement may be determined as thehandler. Thus, a person who has applied in consideration of the dirt orthe damage inside the mobile body and the handling time can become thehandler.

Furthermore, the recruitment announcement may include a cost related tohandling of the dirt or the damage inside the mobile body that has beenrecognized as the result of the recognition process. Thus, a person whohas applied in consideration of the cost can become the handler.

Furthermore, for each handler candidate, the level of satisfaction of auser of the mobile body handled by the handler candidate in the past maybe obtained, and for each handler candidate, a score for the handlercandidate may be calculated based on the level of satisfaction, and thehandler may be determined by further considering the score for eachhandler candidate. Thus, the handler can be determined on the basis ofthe level of satisfaction of the user of the mobile body in handlingrecords in the past.

Furthermore, the handler may be determined according to the level of thedirt or the damage inside the mobile body that has been recognized asthe result of the recognition process. Thus, the handler can bedetermined according to the level of dirt or damage inside the mobilebody.

Furthermore, the handler may be determined according to the kind of thedirt or the damage inside the mobile body that has been recognized asthe result of the recognition process. Thus, the handler can bedetermined according to the kind of dirt or damage inside the mobilebody.

An information processing device according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure includes: an obtainer which obtains a result of sensing aninterior of a mobile body; a recognition process executor which performsa recognition process of recognizing at least one of dirt or damageinside the mobile body, based on the result of sensing; and a handlerdetermination unit configured to determine a handler who handles the atleast one of the dirt or the damage inside the mobile body, according toa result of the recognition process, and output a notification for thehandler to handle the interior of the mobile body.

With the above information processing device, a handler who handles atleast one of dirt and damage inside the mobile body is determined fromthe result of sensing the interior of the mobile body, and anotification for the determined handler to handle the interior of themobile body is output. Therefore, it is possible to assign anappropriate handler to handle the dirt or the damage inside the mobilebody.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to oneaspect of the present disclosure causes a computer to execute a firstprocess including the following executed by the computer: obtaining aresult of sensing an interior of a mobile body; performing a recognitionprocess of recognizing at least one of dirt or damage inside the mobilebody, based on the result of sensing; determining a handler who handlesthe at least one of the dirt or the damage inside the mobile body,according to a result of the recognition process; and outputting anotification for the handler to handle the interior of the mobile body.

With the above non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, ahandler who handles at least one of dirt and damage inside the mobilebody is determined from the result of sensing the interior of the mobilebody, and a notification for the determined handler to handle theinterior of the mobile body is output. Therefore, it is possible toassign an appropriate handler to handle the dirt or the damage insidethe mobile body.

Hereinafter, specific examples of the information processing method, theinformation processing device, and the non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium according to one aspect of the present disclosure willbe described with reference to the drawings. Each of the embodimentsdescribed below shows a specific example of the present disclosure.Thus, the numerical values, shapes, structural elements, and thearrangement and connection of the structural elements, steps, theprocessing order of the steps etc., shown in the following embodimentsare mere examples, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.Note that the figures are schematic diagrams and are not necessarilyprecise illustrations.

Note that general and specific aspects of the present disclosure may beimplemented using a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computerprogram, or a computer-readable recording medium such as a compact discread-only memory (CD-ROM), or any combination of systems, methods,integrated circuits, computer programs, or recording media.

Embodiment 1

Hereinafter, an information processing system according to an embodimentwill be described. This information processing system manages theoperations of a mobile body that transports passengers or freight.

Here, as an example, the mobile body is described as being an autonomousvehicle that is used in ridesharing services, but the mobile body doesnot necessarily need to be limited to the autonomous vehicle that isused in ridesharing services as long as the mobile body is capable oftransporting passengers or freight. Furthermore, there may or may not bea driver or a seat.

[1-1. Configuration of Information Processing System]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of informationprocessing system 1 according to an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, information processing system 1 includesmobile body control server 100, handler management server 200, one ormore mobile bodies 300, and one or more handler terminals 400.

Mobile body 300 is an autonomous vehicle that is used in ridesharingservices and transports passengers or freight. Although FIG. 1 could beinterpreted as if there is one mobile body 300, the number of mobilebodies 300 is not necessarily limited to one and may be two or more.

Mobile body 300 includes controller 30, sensor 31, steering unit 32, andcommunicator 33.

Sensor 31 performs sensing on the interior of mobile body 300 andoutputs sensing information indicating the sensing result. For example,sensor 31 may include an imaging device such as a digital video cameraand a digital still camera, capture an image of a seat inside mobilebody 300, and output the captured image as the sensing information.Furthermore, for example, sensor 31 may include an odor sensor, sense anodor in the internal space of mobile body 300, and output, as thesensing information, information indicating the sensed odor. Moreover,for example, sensor 31 may include an infrared sensor, measure thesurface temperature of a seat inside mobile body 300, and output themeasured surface temperature as the sensing information. Furthermore,for example, sensor 31 may include a directional microphone, collectsound inside mobile body 300, and output the collected sound as thesensing information.

Steering unit 32 steers mobile body 300. Steering unit 32 may be, forexample, dedicated hardware, or may, for example, include a processorand memory and use the processor to execute a program stored in thememory.

Communicator 33 communicates with other devices having communicationcapability. The other devices include mobile body control server 100.For example, communicator 33 may include a radio communicator andcommunicate with other devices by radio.

Controller 30 controls sensor 31, steering unit 32, and communicator 33.Controller 30 may be, for example, dedicated hardware, or may, forexample, include a processor and memory and use the processor to executea program stored in the memory.

Handler management server 200 is a server used by a service company thatprovides mobile body 300.

Handler management server 200 includes controller 20, display 21,operating unit 22, communicator 23, handler manager 70, and handlermanagement database 80. Handler management server 200 is, for example, acomputer including a processor and memory, and may provide variousfunctions by the processor executing a program stored in the memory.

Communicator 23 communicates with other devices having communicationcapability. The other devices include mobile body control server 100 andhandler terminal 400. For example, communicator 23 may include a radiocommunicator and communicate with other devices by radio.

Display 21 shows an image to a user who is using handler managementserver 200. For example, display 21 may include a display device such asa liquid-crystal display and show an image on the display device.

Operating unit 22 receives input from a user who is using handlermanagement server 200. For example, operating unit 22 may include aninput device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel and receiveinput made by a user using the input device.

Handler management database 80 is a database in which handlerinformation related to a handler who handles dirt or damage insidemobile body 300 is stored. The handler information may includeinformation indicating the reservation status of the handler.Alternatively, handler management database 80 may store, separately fromthe handler information, the information indicating the reservationstatus of the handler, instead of including the information indicatingthe reservation status in the handler information.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of the handlerinformation stored in handler management database 80.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the handler information may include handler810, position information 820, handing details 830, business information840, reservation information 850, and fee 860 in association, forexample. Here, handing means cleaning dirt or repairing damage, and ahandler means a cleaning or repair staff member. Handler 810 isinformation indicating a handler and may indicate the name of thehandler and the contact address of the handler, for example. Examples ofthe contact address include a telephone number, an e-mail address, andan IP address. Position information 820 is information indicating theposition of the handler and may indicate a position at which the handlerawaits or may indicate the position of a handling place where thehandler handles dirt or damage, for example. Handing details 830 areinformation indicating handling details that the handler is capable of.Business information 840 is information indicating the business statusof the handler. Reservation information 850 is information indicatingthe reservation status of the handler and may indicate the number ofpeople in line, may indicate reservation time, may indicate waitingtime, or may indicate available time, for example. The reservation timeis start time, end time, or handling time. Furthermore, reservationinformation 850 may be, for example, information indicating thereservation status for each of handling details indicated in handlingdetails 830. Fee 860 is information indicating a handling fee. Fee 860may be, for example, information indicating handling time required forhandling.

In the case where the handler information or the information indicatingthe reservation status includes dynamically changing information, thehandler information or the information indicating the reservation statusmay be updated regularly or when the included information changes.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of thehandler information stored in handler management database 80.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the handler information may be, for example,information indicating handling details that each handler is capable of.

Handler manager 70 manages the information stored in handler managementdatabase 80.

Handler terminal 400 is a terminal owned by a handler. Handler terminal400 includes an input device that receives input from the handler and anoutput device that outputs information (such as an image and sound) tothe handler, and communicates with other devices having communicationcapability. Examples of the input device include a touch panel and amicrophone. Examples of the output device include a liquid-crystaldisplay and a loudspeaker. The other devices having communicationcapability include handler management server 200. Handler terminal 400may be a smartphone, for example.

Mobile body control server 100 is used by a control company thatcontrols mobile body 300.

Mobile body control server 100 includes controller 10, display 11,operating unit 12, communicator 13, mobile body manager 14, mobile bodymanagement database 15, obtainer 40, recognition process executor 50,and handler determination unit 60. Mobile body control server 100 is,for example, a computer including a processor and memory, and mayprovide various functions by the processor executing a program stored inthe memory.

Communicator 13 communicates with other devices having communicationcapability. The other devices include mobile body 300 and handlermanagement server 200. For example, communicator 13 may include a radiocommunicator and communicate with other devices by radio.

Display 11 shows an image to a user who is using mobile body controlserver 100. For example, display 11 may include a display device such asa liquid-crystal display and show an image on the display device.

Operating unit 12 receives input from a user who is using mobile bodycontrol server 100 For example, operating unit 12 may include an inputdevice such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel and receive inputmade by a user using the input device.

Mobile body management database 15 is a database in which informationrelated to the condition of dirt or damage inside mobile body 300 isstored.

Mobile body manager 14 manages the information stored in mobile bodymanagement database 15.

Obtainer 40 obtains a result of sensing the interior of mobile body 300.More specifically, obtainer 40 obtains, as the result of sensing theinterior of mobile body 300, the sensing information output from sensor31 of mobile body 300. In other words, obtainer 40 obtains the sensinginformation transmitted from communicator 33 of mobile body 300 andreceived by communicator 13 of mobile body control server 100.

Recognition process executor 50 performs a recognition process ofrecognizing at least one of dirt and damage inside mobile body 300 onthe basis of the result of sensing the interior of mobile body 300 thathas been obtained by obtainer 40.

For example, when the sensing information is an image of the interior ofmobile body 300, recognition process executor 50 may perform imageprocessing on the image and detect dirt or damage inside mobile body300. In this case, for example, recognition process executor 50 maydetect a difference between an image captured before the entry of apassenger and an image captured after the exit of the passenger, andperform an image recognition process on the detected difference todetect dirt or damage inside mobile body 300. Furthermore, in this case,for example, recognition process executor 50 may perform the imagerecognition process on the image to identify movement of the passengeron board, and determine the kind of dirt or damage inside mobile body300 on the basis of the identified movement. For example, whenrecognition process executor 50 identifies the passenger as having beeneating snacks, recognition process executor 50 may determine that thedirt or the damage inside mobile body 300 is snack crumbs. Whenrecognition process executor 50 identifies the passenger as having beendrinking a beverage, recognition process executor 50 may determine thatthe dirt or the damage inside mobile body 300 is a spilled beverage.When recognition process executor 50 identifies the passenger as havingbeen blowing his or her nose, recognition process executor 50 maydetermine that the dirt or the damage inside mobile body 300 is a facialtissue.

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of the interiorof mobile body 300 when the kind of dirt or damage inside mobile body300 is “snack crumbs”, FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating oneexample of the interior of mobile body 300 when the kind of dirt ordamage inside mobile body 300 is “a spilled beverage”, and FIG. 4C is aschematic diagram illustrating one example of the interior of mobilebody 300 when the kind of dirt or damage inside mobile body 300 is “aplastic bottle”.

For example, when the sensing information is information indicating anodor in the internal space of mobile body 300, recognition processexecutor 50 may detect dirty air inside mobile body 300 on the basis ofthe information indicating the odor.

For example, when the sensing information is the inner surfacetemperature of mobile body 300, recognition process executor 50 maydetect a wet area inside mobile body 300 on the basis of the innersurface temperature of mobile body 300. For example, a wet area on aseat may be detected.

In the recognition process, recognition process executor 50 maycalculate the level of dirt or damage inside mobile body 300, forexample.

For example, recognition process executor 50 may identify the number ofspots of dirt or damage inside mobile body 300 and calculate the levelof the dirt or the damage on the basis of the identified number of spotsof dirt or damage. In this case, for example, when the number of spotsof dirt or damage is relatively small, recognition process executor 50may determine the level of the dirt or the damage as “low”, when thenumber of spots of dirt or damage is relatively in the middle range,recognition process executor 50 may determine the level of the dirt orthe damage as “middle”, and when the number of spots of dirt or damageis relatively large, recognition process executor 50 may determine thelevel of the dirt or the damage as “high”. For example, when the numberof spots of dirt or damage is less than or equal to three, recognitionprocess executor 50 may determine the level of the dirt or the damage as“low”, when the number of spots of dirt or damage is between four andsix, inclusive, recognition process executor 50 may determine the levelof the dirt or the damage as “middle”, and when the number of spots ofdirt or damage is greater than or equal to seven, recognition processexecutor 50 may determine the level of the dirt or the damage as “high”.Here, the number of spots of dirt or damage may be the number of spotsof dirt or damage throughout the interior of mobile body 300, may be thenumber of spots of dirt or damage at a specific location inside mobilebody 300, or may be the number of spots of dirt or damage per unit area(in other words, density).

For example, recognition process executor 50 may specify a lapse of timesince the interior of mobile body 300 becomes dirty or damaged andcalculate the level of the dirt or the damage on the basis of thespecified lapse of time. For example, when the dirt or the damage insidemobile body 300 is a spilled beverage, the cleaning time or fee for thespilled beverage increases as time elapses after the beverage isspilled. Therefore, recognition process executor 50 may calculate thelevel of dirt or damage such that the level of dirt or damage increaseswith the lapse of time since the interior of mobile body 300 becomesdirty or damaged, for example. For example, when the lapse of time sincethe interior of mobile body 300 becomes dirty or damaged is less thanone hour, recognition process executor 50 may determine the level of thedirt or the damage as “low”, when the lapse of time since the interiorof mobile body 300 becomes dirty or damaged is at least one hour, butless than three hours, recognition process executor 50 may determine thelevel of the dirt or the damage as “middle”, and when the lapse of timesince the interior of mobile body 300 becomes dirty or damaged is atleast three hours, recognition process executor 50 may determine thelevel of the dirt or the damage as “high”.

For example, recognition process executor 50 may identify the kind ofdirt or damage inside mobile body 300 and calculate the level of thedirt or the damage on the basis of the number of identified kinds ofdirt or damage. In this case, for example, when the number of kinds ofdirt or damage is one, recognition process executor 50 may determine thelevel of the dirt or the damage as “low”, when the number of kinds ofdirt or damage is two, recognition process executor 50 may determine thelevel of the dirt or the damage as “middle”, and when the number ofkinds of dirt or damage is three or more, recognition process executor50 may determine the level of the dirt or the damage as “high”.

For example, recognition process executor 50 may identify the kind ofdirt or damage inside mobile body 300, specify a handling methodcorresponding the identified kind of the dirt or the damage, andcalculate the level of the dirt or the damage on the basis of thespecified handling method. In this case, for example, when the number ofhandling methods is one, recognition process executor 50 may determinethe level of the dirt or the damage as “low”, when the number ofhandling methods is two, recognition process executor 50 may determinethe level of the dirt or the damage as “middle”, and when the number ofhandling methods is three or more, recognition process executor 50 maydetermine the level of the dirt or the damage as “high”. In this case,for example, recognition process executor 50 may store a table in whichthe kind of dirt or damage and the handling method are associated witheach other, refer to the stored table, and specify the handling methodcorresponding to the identified kind of the dirt or the damage.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of the tablestored in recognition processing executor 50.

For example, recognition process executor 50 may identify the kind ofdirt or damage inside mobile body 300, specify a handling cost forhandling the dirt or the damage according to the identified kind of thedirt or the damage, and calculate the level of the dirt or the damage onthe basis of the specified handling cost. The handling cost is, forexample, handling time or a handling fee. In this case, for example, inthe case where the handling cost is handling time, when the handlingtime is less than ten minutes, recognition process executor 50 maydetermine the level of the dirt or the damage as “low”, when thehandling time is at least ten minutes, but less than one hour,recognition process executor 50 may determine the level of the dirt orthe damage as “middle”, and when the handling time is at least one hour,recognition process executor 50 may determine the level of the dirt orthe damage as “high”. Furthermore, in this case, for example,recognition process executor 50 may store a table in which the kind ofdirt or damage and the handling time or handling method are associatedwith each other, refer to the stored table, and specify the handlingmethod according to the identified kind of the dirt or the damage. Oneexample of the table to be stored may be the table illustrated in FIG.3. The handling time and the handling fee may be preset values, may bevalues calculated from previous records, or may be values obtained froman external business partner, etc.

For example, recognition process executor 50 may identify the percentageof a dirt or damage range in a predetermined area inside mobile body 300and calculate the level of the dirt or the damage on the basis of theidentified percentage of the dirt or the damage. In this case, forexample, when the percentage of the dirt or damage range is less than10%, recognition process executor 50 may determine the level of the dirtor the damage as “low”, when the percentage of the dirt or damage rangeis at least 10%, but less than 30%, recognition process executor 50 maydetermine the level of the dirt or the damage as “middle”, and thepercentage of the dirt or damage range is at least 30%, recognitionprocess executor 50 may determine the level of the dirt or the damage as“high”.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating one specific example of thepercentages of the dirt or damage range in the predetermined area insidemobile body 300.

Here, because dirt or damage may be concentrated on one location ordispersed across multiple locations inside mobile body 300, recognitionprocess executor 50 may determine a usable range in the predeterminedarea inside mobile body 300 from the position of the dirt or the damageand calculate the level of the dirt according to the percentage of thedetermined usable range, for example. As an example of the usable rangein the predetermined area inside mobile body 300, a region locatedwithin a predetermined range from the position of each dirt or damagemay be set as a non-usable range while the region other than thenon-usable range in the predetermined area may be set as a usable range.

Recognition process executor 50 may calculate the level of dirt ordamage by combining the aforementioned calculations of the level of dirtor damage.

For example, recognition process executor 50 may calculate the level ofdirt or damage at each location inside mobile body 300.

For example, recognition process executor 50 may calculate the level ofdirt or damage in the entire area inside mobile body 300 depending onthe level of dirt or damage at each location inside mobile body 300.Recognition process executor 50 may change the level of dirt or damageat each location inside mobile body 300 into numerical form anddetermine the total of these numerical values as the level of dirt ordamage in the entire area inside mobile body 300, for example.Furthermore, recognition process executor 50 may determine the highestvalue of the level of dirt or damage at each location inside mobile body300 as the level of dirt or damage in the entire area inside mobile body300, for example. Moreover, recognition process executor 50 may changethe level of dirt or damage at each location inside mobile body 300 intonumerical form and determine the highest value of the totals of thenumerical values of respective parts inside mobile body 300 as the levelof dirt or damage in the entire area inside mobile body 300, forexample. Examples of these parts include a seat, the floor, and awindow. Furthermore, recognition process executor 50 may change thelevel of dirt or damage at each location inside mobile body 300 intonumerical form and determine the average of these numerical values asthe level of dirt or damage in the entire area inside mobile body 300,for example.

Recognition process executor 50 may further detect dirt or damage on theexterior of mobile body 300 on the basis of information obtained by adevice provided outside mobile body 300, for example. For example, theinformation is an image captured by a surveillance camera installed in agarage where mobile body 300 is stored or an image captured by anonboard camera on a mobile body different from mobile body 300.

Furthermore, recognition process executor 50 determines handling timingfor handling at least one of dirt and damage inside mobile body 300.

For example, when recognition process executor 50 determines that thelevel of dirt or damage inside mobile body 300 exceeds a predeterminedthreshold value, recognition process executor 50 may determine that thisis the handling timing. Furthermore, for example, when mobile bodycontrol server 100 receives, from a user who is using mobile bodycontrol server 100, a handling instruction to handle dirt or damageinside mobile body 300, recognition process executor 50 may determinethat this is the handling timing. Moreover, for example, in the casewhere there are two or more mobile bodies 300, recognition processexecutor 50 may determine the handing timing for one mobile body 300according to comparison between the level of dirt or damage in onemobile body 300 and the level of dirt or damage in another mobile body300.

According to the result of the recognition process performed byrecognition process executor 50, handler determination unit 60determines a handler who handles at least one of dirt and damage insidemobile body 300.

For example, handler determination unit 60 may determine, as thehandler, a handler candidate who is capable of handling dirt or damageinside mobile body 300 that has been recognized as a result of therecognition process performed by recognition process executor 50. Inthis case, for example, handler determination unit 60 may determinehandling details by referring to the condition of dirt or damage insidemobile body 300 that has been recognized as a result of the recognitionprocess performed by recognition process executor 50, and determine, asthe handler, a handler candidate who is able to deal with the determinedhandling details. At this time, handler determination unit 60 may storea table (hereinafter also referred to as the “first table”) in which thekind of dirt or damage inside mobile body 300, the level of dirt ordamage inside mobile body 300, and handling details for dirt or damageinside mobile body 300 are associated with one another, and determinethe handling details with reference to the first table stored, forexample.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of the firsttable stored in handler determination unit 60.

In the case where the first table illustrated in FIG. 7 is stored inhandler determination unit 60, when the kind of dirt or damage insidemobile body 300 that has been recognized as a result of the recognitionprocess performed by recognition process executor 50 is “snack crumbs”and the level of the dirt or the damage is “middle”, handlerdetermination unit 60 may determine the handing details as “vacuuming”with reference to the first table.

When the handling details are determined, handler determination unit 60may refer to the handler information stored in handler managementdatabase 80 and determine a handler from among persons who are capableof the determined handling details. For example, in the case where thehandler information illustrated in FIG. 3 is stored in handlermanagement database 80, when the handling details are determined as“trash removal”, handler determination unit 60 may determine the handlerfrom among handler A, handler C, and handler D.

When the handling details are determined and there are two or morehandler candidates who are capable of the determined handling details,handler determination unit 60 may determine, as the handler, a handlercandidate who meets a predetermined condition. In this case, handlerdetermination unit 60 may generate comparison information in which theconditions for the respective handler candidates can be compared witheach other, refer to the generated comparison information, anddetermine, as the handler, a handler candidate who meets a predeterminedcondition, for example.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of comparisoninformation generated by handler determination unit 60.

In the case where handler determination unit 60 generates the comparisoninformation illustrated in FIG. 8, when the predetermined condition isthat “the handling time is shortest”, handler A may be determined as thehandler. When the predetermined condition is that “the handing fee islowest”, handler C may be determined as the handler. When thepredetermined condition is that “there is no waiting time”, handler Dmay be determined as the handler. When the predetermined condition isthat “the travel time is shortest”, handler A may be determined as thehandler. Note that the predetermined condition is not limited to theseexamples; any condition is applicable as long as the condition relatesto handing.

Because there is not always a handler capable of all handing details,handler determination unit 60 may determine a handling detail to begiven a priority according to the kind or level of dirt or damage insidemobile body 300, and determine, as the handler, a handler candidate whois capable of the handing detail to be given a priority. For example,handler determination unit 60 may determine, as the handing detail to begiven a priority, dirt or damage that is relatively high in the level ofdirt or damage. Consequently, the service restriction on mobile body 300the service of which is restricted due to a relatively high dirt ordamage level can be lifted relatively soon. Furthermore, for example,handler determination unit 60 may determine, as the handling detail tobe given a priority, dirt or damage that is handled in a relativelyshort time. Consequently, the service restriction on mobile body 300 theservice of which is restricted due to there being two or more spots ofdirt or damage in substantially the same level can be lifted relativelysoon. The handing detail to be given a priority can be set by a user whois using information processing system 1. Note that the handling detailto be given a priority may be changed according to circumstances. Forexample, the handing detail to be given a priority may be different inthe case where there are two or more spots of dirt or damage indifferent dirt or damage levels and in the case where there are two ormore spots of dirt or damage in substantially the same dirt or damagelevel. Furthermore, for example, handler determination unit 60 maydetermine, as the handling detail to be given a priority, a handlingdetail that can relatively significantly improve the level of dirt ordamage.

Handler determination unit 60 may determine, as the handling detail tobe given a priority, a handling detail that as a result of handing dirtor damage, enables the level of dirt or damage inside mobile body 300 tofall below the predetermined threshold value mentioned above. This makesit possible to increase the service availability rate for mobile body300. In particular, this is useful during the season. Furthermore,handler determination unit 60 may determine that the level of dirt ordamage below the predetermined threshold value mentioned above is notthe handling detail to be given a priority. This makes it possible toincrease the service availability rate for mobile body 300. Inparticular, this is useful during the season.

Because there is not always a handler capable of all handling details,handler determination unit 60 may determine two or more handlers whotake care of different handling details, for example.

Handler determination unit 60 may change dirt or damage subject tohandling according to the season or the off-season, for example. Forexample, handler determination unit 60 may limit the dirt or the damagesubject to handling to dirt or damage that is “high” in the dirt ordamage level and/or is handled in “less than 10 minutes” during theseason, and not limit the dirt or the damage subject to handling duringthe off-season. The season and the off-season may be determined, forexample, on the basis of preset time, event information, climateinformation, previous mobile body usage request records, and the like.

In the case where there are two or more mobile bodies 300, handlerdetermination unit 60 may change the dirt or the damage subject tohandling, for example, on the basis of the vacancy of mobile body 300that is available.

For example, handler determination unit 60 may determine, as thehandler, a handler candidate who addresses, in a handling place, thedirt or the damage inside mobile body 300 or may determine, as thehandler, a handler candidate who comes into mobile body 300 andaddresses the dirt or the damage inside mobile body 300. In the casewhere a handler candidate who comes into mobile body 300 and addressesthe dirt or the damage inside mobile body 300 is determined as thehandler, for example, handler determination unit 60 may determine, asthe handler, a handler candidate who is able to address the dirt or thedamage during a travel period in which mobile body 300 moves from aplace where one service ends to a place where the next service starts.In this case, for example, handler determination unit 60 may obtain thetravel path or the position of mobile body 300 and the positions of thehandler candidates and determine, as the handler, a handler candidatewho is located in a predetermined range from the travel path or theposition of mobile body 300. Furthermore, in this case, handlerdetermination unit 60 may determine, as the handler, a handler candidatelocated farthest from the place where the next service starts. Thismakes it possible to lengthen the handling period for the handler.

Handler determination unit 60 may determine, as the handler, a handlercandidate who has time to handle dirt or damage inside mobile body 300that has been recognized as a result of the recognition processperformed by recognition process executor 50, for example. In this case,for example, when the handling time can be predicted in advance or whenthe handling time has been determined in advance, handler determinationunit 60 may determine, as the handler, a handler candidate who is ableto handle the dirt or the damage in the predicted or determined handlingtime.

Handler determination unit 60 may determine the handler according to thelevel of dirt or damage inside mobile body 300 that has been recognizedas a result of the recognition process performed by recognition processexecutor 50, for example.

Handler determination unit 60 may determine the handler according to thekind of dirt or damage inside mobile body 300 that has been recognizedas a result of the recognition process performed by recognition processexecutor 50, for example.

When the handler is determined, handler determination unit 60 outputs anotification for the determined handler to handle the situation insidemobile body 300. For example, handler determination unit 60 may obtainthe position of a handling place associated with the handler, and thenotification may be a request to move to the handling place for mobilebody 300. Alternatively, the notification may be a handling request forthe handler to handle mobile body 300. In this case, handlerdetermination unit 60 may obtain the position of mobile body 300, andthe notification may include the position of mobile body 300. Forexample, handler determination unit 60 may obtain the position of thehandler and the position of mobile body 300 an determine the handlingplace according to the obtained positions of the handler and the mobilebody. The notification may include, for example, the position of thedetermined handing place, the handing request for the handler, and thetravel request for mobile body 300.

Controller 10 controls display 11, operating unit 12, communicator 13,mobile body manager 14, obtainer 40, recognition process executor 50,handler determination unit 60, and handler manager 70.

[1-2. Operations of Information Processing System]

Operations performed by information processing system 1 having theabove-described configuration will be described below.

Information processing system 1 performs a first matching process as oneexample.

The first matching process is a process in which mobile body controlserver 100 determines, according to the result of sensing the interiorof mobile body 300, a handler who handles at least one of dirt anddamage inside mobile body 300.

Hereinafter, the first matching process will be described with referenceto FIG. 9 and FIG. 10.

FIG. 9 is a sequence chart of the first matching process.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a process which mobile body control server 100performs (hereinafter also referred to as the “first mobile body controlserver process”) in the first matching process.

In mobile body 300, sensor 31 senses the interior of mobile body 300 andoutputs sensing information indicating the sensing result. Furthermore,communicator 33 transmits, to mobile body control server 100, thesensing information output from sensor 31 (Step S10).

When the sensing information is transmitted, communicator 13 in mobilebody control server 100 receives the sensing information. When thesensing information is received, obtainer 40 obtains, as the result ofsensing the interior of mobile body 300, the sensing informationreceived by communicator 13 (Step S15). When the sensing result isobtained, recognition process executor 50 performs a recognition processof recognizing at least one of dirt and damage inside mobile body 300 onthe basis of the obtained sensing result (Step S20). Subsequently,recognition process executor 50 determines handling timing.

Meanwhile, handler terminal 400 transmits the handler information tohandler management server 200 (Step S25).

When the handler information is transmitted, communicator 23 in handlermanagement server 200 receives the handler information. When the handlerinformation is received, handler manager 70 registers, in handlermanagement database 80, the handler information received by communicator23 (Step S30).

In mobile body control server 100, when the handling timing has arrived(YES in Step S33 after repetition of NO in Step S33 (refer to FIG. 10)),communicator 13 transmits a request for handler information to handlermanagement server 200 (Step S35).

When the request for handler information is transmitted, communicator 23in handler management server 200 receives the request for handlerinformation. When the request for handler information is received,handler manager 70 obtains, from handler management database 80, thehandler information corresponding to the request for handler informationreceived by communicator 23 (Step S40). Subsequently, communicator 23transmits, to mobile body control server 100, the handler informationobtained by handler manager 70 (Step S45).

When the handler information is transmitted, communicator 13 in mobilebody control server 100 receives the handler information (Step S46).Subsequently, handler determination unit 60 performs matching between ahandler and mobile body 300 using the handler information received bycommunicator 13 and the result of the recognition process performed byrecognition process executor 50 (Step S50).

More specifically, the process in Step S50 is to determine a handler whohandles at least one of dirt and damage inside mobile body 300 andincludes the processes in Step S510 to Step S540 illustrated in FIG. 10.

When the process in Step S50 starts, handler determination unit 60checks whether or not specific dirt or damage has been recognized as aresult of the recognition process performed by recognition processexecutor 50 (Step S510).

When the specific dirt or damage has been recognized in the process inStep S510 (YES in Step S510), handler determination unit 60 identifies,by screening the handler candidates indicated in the handlerinformation, a handler candidate capable of addressing the specific dirtor damage that has been recognized (Step S520). Furthermore, handlerdetermination unit 60 screens the handler candidates according to thehandling time corresponding to the level of dirt or damage that has beenrecognized as a result of the recognition process performed byrecognition process executor 50 (Step S530).

When the specific dirt or damage has not been recognized in the processin Step S510 (NO in Step S510), handler determination unit 60 skips theprocess in Step S520 and performs the process in Step S530.

When the handler candidates are screened in the process in Step S530,handler determination unit 60 determines a handler from among thescreened handler candidates (Step S540). Handler determination unit 60outputs, as the notification for the determined handler to handle theinterior of mobile body 300, a handling request for the determinedhandler to handle mobile body 300 and a travel request for mobile body300 to move to the handling place.

When the handling request is output, communicator 13 in mobile bodycontrol server 100 transmits the handling request to handler controlserver 200 (Step S55).

When the handling request is transmitted, communicator 23 in handlermanagement server 200 receives the handling request. Subsequently,handler manager 70 updates handler management database 80 with thecontent of the handling request received by communicator 23 (Step S60).Communicator 23 transmits the handling request to handler terminal 400of the handler to which the handling request is to be directed (StepS65). Handler terminal 400 receives the transmitted handling request andpresents the received handling request to a user who uses handlerterminal 400 (Step S70).

Meanwhile, when the travel request for mobile body 300 to move to thehandling place is output, communicator 13 in mobile body control server100 transmits the travel request to mobile body 300 (Step S75).

When the travel request is transmitted, communicator 33 in mobile body300 receives the travel request. Subsequently, in response to the travelrequest, steering unit 32 causes mobile body 300 to move to the handlingplace (Step S80).

[1-3. Review]

As described above, according to information processing system 1, ahandler who handles at least one of dirt and damage inside mobile body300 is determined from the result of sensing the interior of mobile body300, and a notification for the determined handler to handle theinterior of mobile body 300 is output. Therefore, it is possible toassign an appropriate handler to handle the dirt or the damage insidemobile body 300.

Embodiment 2

Hereinafter, an information processing system according to Embodiment 2obtained by changing a portion of the configuration of informationprocessing system 1 according to Embodiment 1 will be described.

[2-1. Configuration of Information Processing System]

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of informationprocessing system 1A according to Embodiment 2. Hereinafter, structuralelements of information processing system 1A that are the same as orsimilar to those of information processing system 1 according toEmbodiment 1 will be assigned the same reference marks and detailedexplanations thereof will be omitted assuming that the explanations havealready been provided; the following description focuses on the pointsof difference from information processing system 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, information processing system 1A results fromchanging information processing system 1 according to Embodiment 1 byreplacing mobile body control server 100 and handler terminal 400 bymobile body control server 100A and handler terminal 400A, respectively.Mobile body control server 100A results from changing mobile bodycontrol server 100 by replacing handler determination unit 60 by handlerdetermination unit 60A.

According to the result of the recognition process performed byrecognition process executor 50, handler determination unit 60Adetermines a handler who handles at least one of dirt and damage insidemobile body 300. More specifically, handler determination unit 60Apresents, to handler candidates, a recruitment announcement includingthe condition of dirt or damage inside mobile body 300 that has beenrecognized as a result of the recognition process, and scheduledhandling time for the dirt or the damage inside mobile body 300, anddetermines, as the handler, a handler candidate who has applied inresponse to the presented recruitment announcement. Here, when handlerdetermination unit 60A generates the recruitment announcement,communicator 13 transmits the generated recruitment announcement tohandler terminal 400 owned by the handler candidate via handlermanagement server 200. Subsequently, when communicator 13 receives, viahandler management server 200, an application including availabilityinformation transmitted from handler terminal 400 in response to thetransmitted recruitment announcement, handler determination unit 60Adetermines a handler from among handler candidates who have applied onthe basis of the availability information included in the receivedapplication.

Here, the condition of dirt or damage may be, for example, the kind ofdirt or damage, the location of dirt or damage, the material at thelocation of dirt or damage, or the level of dirt or damage each of whichhas been recognized as a result of the recognition process. Examples ofthe kind of dirt include snack crumbs, a spilled beverage, and a plasticbottle, and examples of the kind of damage include fraying of the fabricof a seat and a hole in a seat. Examples of the location of dirt ordamage include a seat, the floor, a window, and the exterior of mobilebody 300. Examples of the material at the location of dirt or damageinclude leather, cloth, wood, and plastic. Examples of the level of dirtor damage include low, middle, and high. The level of dirt or damage mayinclude, for example, a rule for determining the level of dirt ordamage. Examples of this rule include time elapsed after the dirt or thedamage occurs. In the case where there are two or more rules fordetermining the level of dirt or damage, the level of dirt or damage mayinclude these two or more rules. Furthermore, the level of dirt ordamage may include the kind of a sensor for sensing the interior ofmobile body 300 and information about sensing. The information aboutsensing may be, for example, information about a sensing value orsensing time or location. The information about sensing time or locationis, for example, imaging time included in imaging information obtainedwhen an image is captured or information of a position at which theimage is captured.

For example, handler determination unit 60A may determine scheduledhanding time on the basis of the next service start time determined inadvance according to an operation plan for mobile body 300. In thiscase, for example, when the next service start time is determined as16:00, handler determination unit 60A may determine that the scheduledhandling time is until 16:00. In this case, since the scheduled handingtime is not determined on the basis of the handing time for handlingdirt or damage, the entire handling is not always completed within thescheduled handling time. Therefore, handler determination unit 60A mayselect a handing detail or may give a priority to a handing detail. Whena handing detail is selected or the priority is given to a handingdetail, information indicating the selected handing detail orinformation indicating the priority given to the handing detail needs tobe included in the scheduled handling time. For example, dirt or damagein a higher level may be selected. Furthermore, for example, dirt ordamage the level of which exceeds a threshold value or is relativelyclose to a threshold value may be selected. Furthermore, for example,dirt or damage in a higher level may be given a higher priority.Furthermore, for example, a handling detail that needs to be handledsooner may be given a higher priority.

Handler determination unit 60A may determine the scheduled handlingtime, for example, on the basis of dirt or damage recognized as a resultof the recognition process. For example, when dirt or damage thatrequires two hours to handle is recognized as a result of therecognition process, handler determination unit 60A may determine, asthe scheduled handling time, two hours after the start of handling. Inthis case as well, handler determination unit 60A may select a handingdetail or may give a priority to a handing detail.

Handler determination unit 60A may determine the scheduled handlingtime, for example, on the basis of a predetermined period allocated inadvance to handle dirt or damage. For example, when the predeterminedperiod allocated in advance to handle dirt or damage is two hoursincluding a travel period for handling, handler determination unit 60Amay determine, as the scheduled handing time, two hours after the startof travel for handling. In this case as well, handler determination unit60A may select a handing detail or may give a priority to a handlingdetail.

A specific example of the scheduled handling time may be, for example,handing start time. In this case, the scheduled handing time may beinformation indicating that the handing start time is before 14:00 ormay be information indicating that the handling start time is between14:00 and 14:30, for example. A specific example of the scheduledhandling time may be, for example, handling end time. In this case, thescheduled handing time may be information indicating that the handlingend time is before 15:00 or may be information indicating that thehandling end time is between 14:30 and 15:00, for example. A specificexample of the scheduled handling time may be, for example, a handlingperiod. In this case, the scheduled handling time may be informationindicating that the period between the start of handling and the end ofhandling is between 14:00 and 15:00, for example. A specific example ofthe scheduled handling time may be, for example, time of arrival at ascheduled destination after completion of handling. In this case, thescheduled handling time may be information indicating that the time ofarrival at the scheduled destination after completion of handling isbefore 16:00, for example. Examples of the time of arrival include thenext service start time and the waiting start time. When the scheduledhandling time is the time of arrival at the scheduled destination aftercompletion of handling, the scheduled handing time needs to includeinformation indicating the location or area of the destination. Thisallows an applicant who responds to the recruitment announcement to takethe travel time to move to the destination into consideration uponapplying. A specific example of the scheduled handling time may be, forexample, information indicating that handling is required as soon aspossible. In this case, an applicant may apply with informationindicating the handling time.

The recruitment announcement may also include, for example, a costrelated to handling of dirt or damage inside mobile body 300 that hasbeen recognized as a result of the recognition process. Specificexamples of the cost may include information indicating the range ofhandling fees, information indicating the lower limit of the handlingfees, and information indicating the upper limit of the handling fees.This makes it possible to request handling under a predetermined charge.

The recruitment announcement may also include, for example, informationrelated to a desired area for handling. This makes it possible to send ahandling request to a handler located within a predetermined area.

The recruitment announcement may also include, for example, informationrelated to dirt or damage to be handled. The information related to dirtor damage to be handled may be, for example, information indicating dirtor damage to be handled or information indicating dirt or damage not tobe handled. This makes it possible to request that only dirt or damagein a relatively high dirt or damage level be handled or request thatdirt or damage in a relatively low dirt or damage level not be handled.Furthermore, it is possible to increase the availability rate for mobilebody 300 by requesting that only dirt or damage in a relatively highdirt or damage level be handled or requesting that dirt or damage in arelatively low dirt or damage level not be handled, for example, duringthe season.

The recruitment announcement may also include, for example, informationrelated to dirt or damage that is always required to be handled orinformation related to dirt or damage that is not always required to behandled. This makes it possible to prioritize the dirt or the damagethat is always required to be handled while handling, to the extentpossible, the dirt or the damage that is not always required to behandled when the handling time is limited according to the operationplan for mobile body 300. Examples of the dirt or the damage that isalways required to be handled may include dirt or damage in a “high”dirt or damage level and dirt or damage in a dirt or damage level thatexceeds a predetermined threshold value.

The recruitment announcement may also include, for example, informationrelated to the type of a mobile body. This allows an applicant to takethe features of the mobile body into consideration upon applying.

The recruitment announcement may also include, for example, informationrelated to the current position of a mobile body. This allows anapplicant to estimate the time of arrival of the mobile body at thehandling place and calculate handling time that can be spent by theapplicant him/herself. In this case, the recruitment announcement mayfurther include, for example, scheduled time of departure to thehandling place and the position of the mobile body at that time.

When communicator 13 receives an application including the availabilityinformation, handler determination unit 60A performs matching between ahandler candidate who has applied and mobile body 300 on the basis ofthe availability information included in the received application.Subsequently, on the basis of the result of matching, handlerdetermination unit 60A determines a handler from among handlercandidates who have applied.

The availability information may include, for example, informationindicating whether or not handling is possible, information indicatingthe handling place, information indicating the handling time,information indicating the handling details, or information indicatingthe handling fee. Examples of the handling time include scheduledhandling start time, scheduled handling end time, and a handling period.The handling details are details that can be handled or details thatcannot be handled, for example.

Handler determination unit 60A may store a predetermined condition anddetermine a handler on the basis of the availability information usingthe predetermined condition stored, for example.

Examples of the predetermined condition include the condition that thehandling fee is lowest, the condition that the handling time isshortest, the condition that the total of required handling timeincluding the travel time is shortest, and the condition that more spotsof dirt or damage can be handled.

Handler determination unit 60A may further obtain, for each handlercandidate, the level of satisfaction of a user of mobile body 300handled by the handler candidate in the past, calculate, for eachhandler candidate, a score for the handler candidate on the basis of theobtained level of satisfaction, and determine a handler by alsoconsidering the score for each handler candidate.

Handler terminal 400A is a terminal owned by a handler. Handler terminal400A includes an input device that receives input from the handler andan output device that outputs information to the handler, andcommunicates other devices having communication capability. Examples ofthe input device include a touch panel and a microphone. The outputdevice is, for example, a device such as a liquid-crystal display and aloudspeaker that outputs an image, sound, and the like. The otherdevices having communication capability include handler managementserver 200. Handler terminal 400A may be a smartphone, for example.

When handler terminal 400A receives the recruitment announcement fromhandler management server 200, handler terminal 400A generates anapplication including the availability information in response to thereceived recruitment announcement and transmits the generatedapplication to handler management server 200.

For example, when handler terminal 400A receives the recruitmentannouncement from handler management server 200, handler terminal 400Amay present the content of the recruitment announcement to a user who isusing handler terminal 400A, receive input of the availabilityinformation from the user in response to the presentation, and generatean application including the availability information on the basis ofthe received input.

For example, when handler terminal 400A receives the recruitmentannouncement from handler management server 200, handler terminal 400Adetermines whether or not handling is possible on the basis of thecondition of dirt or damage inside mobile body 300 and the scheduledhandling time for the dirt or the damage inside mobile body 300 that areincluded in the recruitment announcement. Furthermore, handler terminal400A may generate an application including the availability informationon the basis of the result of the determination. In this case, handlerterminal 400A may store a table (hereinafter also referred to as the“second table”) in which the level of dirt or damage inside mobile body300 and the handling time for handling the dirt or the damage insidemobile body 300 are associated with each another, and determine whetheror not handing is possible with reference to the second table stored,for example.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of the secondtable stored in handler terminal 400A.

In the case where the second table illustrated in FIG. 12 is stored,when handler terminal 400A receives the recruitment announcement,handler terminal 400A refers to the second table and calculates, fromthe level of dirt or damage inside mobile body 300 that is included inthe recruitment announcement, the handling time for handling the dirt orthe damage. Handler terminal 400A determines whether or not thecalculated handling time is within the scheduled handling time for dirtor damage inside mobile body 300 that is included in the recruitmentannouncement. When handler terminal 400A determines that the calculatedhandling time is within the scheduled handling time, handler terminal400A may determine that handling is possible, and when handler terminal400A determines that the calculated handling time is not within thescheduled handling time, handler terminal 400A may determine thathandling is not possible.

For example, handler terminal 400A may store a table in which the kindof dirt or damage inside mobile body 300 and the handling time forhandling dirt or damage inside mobile body 300 are associated with eachother, refer to the stored table, and determine whether or not handlingis possible. Furthermore, for example, handler terminal 400A may store atable in which the location of dirt or damage inside mobile body 300 andthe handling time for handling dirt or damage inside mobile body 300 areassociated with each other, refer to the stored table, and determinewhether or not handling is possible. Furthermore, for example, handlerterminal 400A may store a table in which the material at the location ofdirt or damage inside mobile body 300 and the handling time for handlingdirt or damage inside mobile body 300 are associated with each other,refer to the stored table, and determine whether or not handling ispossible.

[2-2. Operations of Information Processing System]

Operations performed by information processing system 1A having theabove-described configuration will be described below.

Information processing system 1A performs a second matching process asone example.

The second matching process is a process in which mobile body controlserver 100A posts a recruitment announcement for a handler who handlesat least one of dirt and damage inside mobile body 300 according to theresult of sensing the interior of mobile body 300 and determines ahandler from among applicants who respond to the recruitmentannouncement.

Hereinafter, the second matching process will be described withreference to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14.

FIG. 13 is a sequence chart of the second matching process.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a process which mobile body control server100A performs (hereinafter also referred to as the “second mobile bodycontrol server process”) in the second matching process.

In the second matching process, the processes in Step S110 to Step S130(refer to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14) and the process in Step S133 (refer toFIG. 14) are substantially the same as the processes in Step S10 to StepS30 (refer to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10) and the process in Step S33 (refer toFIG. 10) in the first matching process according to Embodiment 1 exceptthat mobile body control server 100 is replaced by mobile body controlserver 100A, handler determination unit 60 is replaced by handlerdetermination unit 60A, and handler terminal 400 is replaced by handlerterminal 400A. Therefore, here, detailed explanations of the processesin Step S110 to Step S130 and the process in Step S133 will be omittedassuming that the explanations have already been provided, and theprocesses in Step S135 to Step S175 (refer to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14) willbe described.

In mobile body control server 100, when the handling timing has arrived(YES in Step S133 after repetition of NO in Step S133 (refer to FIG.14)), handler determination unit 60A calculates the scheduled handlingtime according to the operation plan for mobile body 300 and thecondition of dirt or damage inside mobile body 300 that has beenrecognized as a result of the recognition process performed byrecognition process executor 50 (Step S135). Handler determination unit60A generates a recruitment announcement including the condition of dirtor damage inside mobile body 300 and the scheduled handling time fordirt or damage inside mobile body 300.

When the recruitment announcement is generated, communicator 13transmits the generated recruitment announcement to handler managementserver 200 (Step S140).

When the recruitment announcement is transmitted from mobile bodycontrol server 100A, communicator 23 in handler management server 200transmits the received recruitment announcement to handler terminal400A. Note that in the process in Step S140, communicator 13 maydirectly transmit the generated recruitment announcement to handlerterminal 400A; in this case, communicator 23 does not need to transmitthe recruitment announcement to handler terminal 400A.

When the recruitment announcement is transmitted from handler managementserver 200, handler terminal 400A receives the recruitment announcement.Subsequently, handler terminal 400A presents the content of the receivedrecruitment announcement to a user who uses handler terminal 400A andreceives input of the availability information from the user in responseto the presentation (Step S145).

When the input of the availability information is received, handlerterminal 400A generates an application including the availabilityinformation on the basis of the received input and transmits thegenerated application to handler management server 200 (Step S150).

When the application is transmitted from handler terminal 400A,communicator 23 in handler management server 200 receives theapplication and transmits the received application to mobile bodycontrol server 100A. Note that in the process in Step S150, handlerterminal 400A may directly transmit the generated application to mobilebody control server 100A; in this case, communicator 23 does not need totransmit the application to mobile body control server 100A.

When the application is transmitted from handler management server 200,communicator 13 in mobile body control server 100A receives theapplication. When the application is received, handler determinationunit 60A performs matching between a handler candidate who has appliedand mobile body 300 on the basis of the availability informationincluded in the received application. (a part of the process in StepS155, that is, Step S156 in FIG. 14) Handler determination unit 60Adetermines, from among handler candidates, a handler who handles atleast one of dirt and damage inside mobile body 300 (a part of theprocess in Step S155, that is, Step S157 in FIG. 14). Handlerdetermination unit 60A outputs, as the notification for the determinedhandler to handle the interior of mobile body 300, a handling requestfor the determined handler to handle mobile body 300 and a travelrequest for mobile body 300 to move to the handling place.

When the handling request is output, communicator 13 in mobile bodycontrol server 100A transmits the handling request and the matchingresult to handler control server 200 (Step S160).

When the handling request and the matching result are transmitted,communicator 23 in handler management server 200 receives the handlingrequest and the matching result. Communicator 23 transmits the receivedhandling request to handler terminal 400A owned by the determinedhandler and transmits the received matching result to handler terminal400A which has transmitted the application. Handler terminal 400Areceives the transmitted handling request and matching result or thetransmitted matching result. Handler terminal 400A presents the receivedhanding request and matching result or the received matching result to auser who uses handler terminal 400A (Step S165). Note that in theprocess in Step S160, communicator 13 may directly transmit thegenerated handling request to handler terminal 400A owned by thedetermined handler and directly transmit the matching result to handlerterminal 400A which has transmitted the application. In this case,communicator 23 does not need to transmit the handling request or thematching result to handler terminal 400A.

Meanwhile, when the travel request for mobile body 300 to move to thehandling place is output, communicator 13 in mobile body control server100A transmits the travel request to mobile body 300 (Step S170).

When the travel request is transmitted, communicator 33 in mobile body300 receives the travel request. Subsequently, in response to the travelrequest, steering unit 32 causes mobile body 300 to move to the handlingplace (Step S175).

[2-3. Review]

As described above, according to information processing system 1A, ahandler who handles at least one of dirt and damage inside mobile body300 is determined from the result of sensing the interior of mobile body300, and a notification for the determined handler to handle theinterior of mobile body 300 is output. Therefore, it is possible toassign an appropriate handler to handle the dirt or the damage insidemobile body 300.

Other Embodiments

Although the information processing system according to one or moreaspects of the present disclosure has been thus far described based onEmbodiments 1 and 2, the present disclosure is not limited to theseembodiments. Various modifications to the present embodiments that canbe conceived by those skilled in the art, and forms configured bycombining structural elements in different embodiments, withoutdeparting from the teachings of the present disclosure may be includedin one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

(1) In Embodiment 1, information processing system 1 is described asbeing configured to include two servers, namely, mobile body controlserver 100 and handler management server 200, as one example. However,information processing system 1 does not necessarily need to be limitedto the example of being configured to include mobile body control server100 and handler management server 200 as long as substantially the samefunction as the function provided by mobile body control server 100 andhandler management server 200 can be provided. Information processingsystem 1 may, for example, be configured to include one server capableof providing substantially the same function as the function provided bymobile body control server 100 and handler management server 200. Forexample, information processing system 1 may be configured to includethree or more servers capable of providing, by operating in coordinationwith one another, substantially the same function as the functionprovided by mobile body control server 100 and handler management server200.

(2) In Embodiment 1, information processing system 1 is described asbeing configured such that mobile body control server 100 performs therecognition process and determines the handler. However, informationprocessing system 1 does not necessarily need to be limited to theconfiguration in which mobile body control server 100 performs therecognition process and determines the handler as long as therecognition process can be performed and the handler can be determined.For example, information processing system 1 may be configured such thatmobile body 300 partially or entirely performs the recognition processor may be configured such that mobile body 300 partially or entirelyperforms the process of determining the handler.

(3) Some or all of the structural elements included in mobile bodycontrol server 100, handler management server 200, mobile body 300, andhandler terminal 400 may be one system LSI (Large Scale Integration:large scale integrated circuit). The system LSI is a supermultifunctional LSI manufactured by integrating a plurality ofcomponents onto a single chip. Specifically, the system LSI is acomputer system configured of a microprocessor, read-only memory (ROM),random-access memory (RAM), and so on. A computer program is stored inthe ROM. The system LSI achieves its function as a result of themicroprocessor operating according to the computer program.

Note that although a system LSI is mentioned here, there are instanceswhere the designations IC, LSI, super LSI, and ultra LSI are useddepending on the level of integration. Furthermore, the method ofcircuit integration is not limited to LSIs, and implementation through adedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor is also possible. Afield programmable gate array (FPGA) which allows programming after LSImanufacturing or a reconfigurable processor which allows reconfigurationof the connections and settings of the circuit cells inside the LSI mayalso be used.

In addition, depending on the emergence of circuit integrationtechnology that replaces LSI due to progress in semiconductor technologyor other derivative technology, it is obvious that such technology maybe used to integrate the function blocks. Possibilities in this regardinclude the application of biotechnology and the like.

(4) One aspect of the present disclosure may be not only the informationprocessing system described above, but also an information processingmethod including, as steps, characteristic components included in theinformation processing system. Furthermore, one aspect of the presentdisclosure may also be a computer program for causing a computer toexecute the respective characteristic steps included in the informationprocessing method. Moreover, one aspect of the present disclosure mayalso be a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium on whichthis sort of computer program is recorded.

(5) In an embodiment, each of the structural elements may be configuredin the form of an exclusive hardware product or may be implemented byexecuting a software program suitable for the structural element. Eachof the structural elements may be implemented by a program executor suchas a central processing unit (CPU) or a processor reading and executingthe software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard diskor a semiconductor memory.

Although only some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure havebeen described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplaryembodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings andadvantages of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thepresent disclosure.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure can be widely used in systems that operate mobilebodies.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing method, comprising thefollowing executed by a computer: obtaining a result of sensing aninterior of a mobile body; performing a recognition process ofrecognizing at least one of dirt or damage inside the mobile body, basedon the result of sensing; determining a handler who handles the at leastone of the dirt or the damage inside the mobile body, according to aresult of the recognition process; and outputting a notification for thehandler to handle the interior of the mobile body.
 2. The informationprocessing method according to claim 1, wherein a handler candidate whois capable of handling the dirt or the damage inside the mobile body isdetermined as the handler, the dirt or the damage being recognized asthe result of the recognition process.
 3. The information processingmethod according to claim 1, wherein a handler candidate who has time tohandle the dirt or the damage inside the mobile body is determined asthe handler, the dirt or the damage being recognized as the result ofthe recognition process.
 4. The information processing method accordingto claim 1, further comprising: obtaining a travel path or a position ofthe mobile body and a position of a handler candidate; and determining,as the handler, a handler candidate located in a predetermined rangefrom the travel path or the position.
 5. The information processingmethod according to claim 1, further comprising: obtaining a position ofa handling place associated with the handler, wherein the notificationis a travel request for the mobile body to move to the handling place.6. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein thenotification is a handling request for the handler to handle the mobilebody.
 7. The information processing method according to claim 6, furthercomprising: obtaining a position of the mobile body, wherein thenotification includes the position of the mobile body.
 8. Theinformation processing method according to claim 1, further comprising:obtaining a position of the handler and a position of the mobile body;and determining a handling place according to the position of thehandler and the position of the mobile body, wherein the notificationincludes a position of the handling place, a handling request for thehandler, and a travel request for the mobile body.
 9. The informationprocessing method according to claim 1, comprising: presenting, to ahandler candidate, a recruitment announcement including a condition ofthe dirt or the damage inside the mobile body and scheduled handlingtime for handling the dirt or the damage inside the mobile body, thedirt or the damage being recognized as the result of the recognitionprocess; and determining, as the handler, a handler candidate who hasapplied in response to the recruitment announcement.
 10. The informationprocessing method according to claim 9, wherein the recruitmentannouncement includes a cost related to handling of the dirt or thedamage inside the mobile body, the dirt or the damage being recognizedas the result of the recognition process.
 11. The information processingmethod according to claim 1, further comprising: obtaining, for eachhandler candidate, a level of satisfaction of a user of the mobile bodyhandled by the handler candidate in the past; calculating, for eachhandler candidate, a score for the handler candidate based on the levelof satisfaction; and determining the handler by further considering thescore for each handler candidate.
 12. The information processing methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the handler is determined according to alevel of the dirt or the damage inside the mobile body, the dirt or thedamage being recognized as the result of the recognition process. 13.The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein thehandler is determined according to a kind of the dirt or the damageinside the mobile body, the dirt or the damage being recognized as theresult of the recognition process.
 14. An information processing device,comprising: an obtainer which obtains a result of sensing an interior ofa mobile body; a recognition process executor which performs arecognition process of recognizing at least one of dirt or damage insidethe mobile body, based on the result of sensing; and a handlerdetermination unit configured to determine a handler who handles the atleast one of the dirt or the damage inside the mobile body, according toa result of the recognition process, and output a notification for thehandler to handle the interior of the mobile body.
 15. A non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium having a program recorded thereon forcausing a computer to execute a first process including the followingexecuted by the computer: obtaining a result of sensing an interior of amobile body; performing a recognition process of recognizing at leastone of dirt or damage inside the mobile body, based on the result ofsensing; determining a handler who handles the at least one of the dirtor the damage inside the mobile body, according to a result of therecognition process; and outputting a notification for the handler tohandle the interior of the mobile body.